FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—No, it wasn’t as extreme as the color-coded “red light-green light” system Rex Ryan devised for a struggling Mark Sanchez in November 2009, the first year for both of them with the Jets.

But the Jets and Sanchez definitely put a priority on taking care of the ball in the Jets’ 27-13 win over St. Louis, and although Sanchez did lose the ball on a strip sack, he recovered it himself.

Sanchez had no turnovers and played efficiently in the win, going 15-for-20 for 178 yards with one touchdown. That performance was more than good enough against a struggling St. Louis offense.

It likely will not be enough to get it done Thanksgiving night against the potent New England attack, even if Rob Gronkowski is out with a fractured forearm.

As he did in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ overtime loss at New England last month, Sanchez will have to throw more deep passes and attack the Pats’ suspect secondary if he wants to keep pace with Tom Brady.

However, troubled-but-talented cornerback Aqib Talib, acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, already made a difference in his first game with the Pats, recording a pick-six off Andrew Luck.

The New England should be more formidable than what Sanchez saw in the earlier meeting.